Arsenal boss Wenger: I need strong finish to boost market plans

Wenger hopes third place and with it automatic qualification for the Champions League, would allow him a stronger hand in the summer transfer market, with a £10million deal with Cologne for German striker Lukas Podolski expected to be one of several deals pushed through before the European Championships.

The Arsenal boss said: "Where we finish and how we finish will determine what we do in the break. What we have delivered in the last two months is quite positive and it will depend now on how strong we finish."